Christopher Reeve Biography

Christopher Reeve, who glazed the screen playing the role of Superman, was born on September 25, 1952, in New York to Franklin Reeve (who was a writer and a professor) and Barbara Johnson (who was a journalist). Near 1956, when Christopher was just four years of age, his father divorced Barbara and left the home. Christopher, his elder brother Benjamin and Barbara moved to Princeton, New Jersey where she married to an Investment Banker Tristam Johnson a couple of years later. However separated from his father, Chris and his elder brother still was allowed to meet Franklin Reeve and they spent high quality time with Franklin whenever they met, Franklin always tried to teach good things whenever he met his children.

Christopher was an average student in study during his school and high-school days but he was very much interested in acting (He even had opportunities to work in plays and dramas staged in his school and at the local theatre), he was a member of almost all the clubs in his school and also played in ice hockey team (Which became his favorite game). When Reeve was 15, he got an apprenticeship at the Williams Town Theatre Festival, Massachusetts.

After finishing graduation he entered Cornell University for the further studies. Chris had found an agent who helped him in managing his study and also his work as a professional actor. At Cornell University, Reeve studied Theaters in Britain and France, and also secured a post in Old Vic Theatre in London. Along with his study, Reeve worked in many dramas and plays and performed at various renowned theaters. He gathered an experience of acting in through variety of roles. His passion for acting helped him in securing a position in the list of the students who were selected to study at New York's Juilliard School of Performing Arts (the other person to get selected was Robin Williams). At Juilliard, Chris studied under the guidance of John Houseman. During his days at Juilliard, Chris accepted a role in a television serial (a soap opera) to support his study. He also got an opportunity to appear for an audition from where he was selected for a role in a play 'A Matter of Gravity' (which he wanted to perform eagerly). His performance in the play and the serial helped him in gaining popularity and his work was liked so much that, he started getting more and more offers for interesting roles, this resulted in his stepping out of the Juilliard School even before he could complete his final year of study.

From year 1976, Chris started getting offers for roles (even though few of them were for small roles) in movies. 'Gray Lady Down' was the first movie he got a small role in. When Chris was in New York during the production of 'My Life', he got an opportunity to appear for an audition for a role in movie Superman in 1978. Reeve was selected for the role of superman from the audition. Reeve successfully portrayed the role of the real hero on the reel and his acting was very much appreciated. Because of the role of Superman, he became a superstar after his movie Superman in 1978.
After Superman in 1978, Reeve did few more movies (more than a dozen) and worked in theater plays (about 100). Because of the success of Superman I, Reeve was again considered for the role in its sequel Superman II. Reeve continued giving performances in movies and plays and accepted the roles he was interested in rather than the offers that came from big banners and big directors, he turned down many offers he had got to work in some small plays and movies which offered him some off-bit character roles. He was passionate about acting rather than the success he could have attained through his talent.

Reeve was not only an actor; he also played an important role in active politics. Reeve was a democrat and strong supporter of the Democratic thinking. He was a member of many clubs, groups and organizations. In his lifetime, Reeve took part in activities such as protests, demonstrations, and rallies etc., which were in public interest. He even won a special Obie Award in 1988 for his successful efforts in freeing 77 artists from the death trap by Pinochet Government. Reeve was also an environment and animal rights activist.

Further in May 1995, while riding horse, Reeve couldn't release his hands from the horse's bridle and fell down on his head. Reeve was instantly paralyzed on the spot because of the injuries he received to the upper vertebra. After that accident, Reeve who suited for the roles of superhero was left immobilized and his life became dependent on others. He was in complete stress. During this tough time, his wife Dana helped him in facing all that was waiting for him ahead in his life. He came up as a new hope for those who were facing the same situation. Reeve decided to help those who were suffering spinal injuries; he helped in establishing help centers, awareness camps etc for those people. He was also selected as Vice Chairman Of The National Organization On Disability in 1997. From 1996 to 2004, Chris wrote a couple of books, one of which was his autobiography (which was a best seller).

The Superman of silver screen who was termed Man of Steel in real life died on 10 October 2004.